陰陽相濟Yin-Yang Harmony

 陰陽相濟Yin-Yang Harmony

太極拳推手技藝，以「陰陽相濟」為法，其要訣在於「雙手有動靜，兩腿分虛實，身體有剛柔」。動靜、虛實、剛柔，彼此相互依存配合，不可分離。三者的合作，便是「陰陽相濟」的表現，也決定太極拳推手的境界。要達此境界，則要從基礎拳架的「放鬆」著眼。放鬆使身手輕靈敏捷，能因著對方的變化，而在動靜、虛實與剛柔之間順勢轉變。

身手輕靈，自然能展現「黏、貼、連、隨」的手法；所謂「雙手有陰陽」，是指上下、前後、左右的對應關係。當左手隨勢而動時，右手即配合應對；反之，右手順勢而動時，左手也配合以對。如此循環往復，如《易經．繫辭傳》所云：「乾以易知，坤以簡能。易則易知，簡則易從。」「易知」與「簡從」相倚相存而立，未嘗有離。

〈太極拳論〉言：「黏即是走，走即是黏。陰不離陽，陽不離陰；陰陽相濟，方為懂勁。」陰陽微妙的對應關係，是推手「以柔克剛」、「以靜制動」技藝的體現。

Yin-Yang Harmony

In Tai Chi push hands, the principle of "Yin-Yang Harmony" emphasizes that "the hands have movement and stillness, the legs distinguish between fullness and emptiness, and the body exhibits rigidity and softness." Movement and stillness, fullness and emptiness, rigidity and softness mutually depend on and complement each other, forming an inseparable relationship. The cooperation of these three elements manifests as "Yin-Yang Harmony," which ultimately defines the depth of Tai Chi push hands.

To achieve this level of mastery, one must focus on the foundational practice of "relaxation." Relaxation allows for lightness and agility, enabling a smooth transition between movement and stillness, fullness and emptiness, and rigidity and softness in response to the partner's changes.

With a light and agile body, one can naturally exhibit the techniques of "adhere, stick, connect, and follow." The phrase "the hands embody Yin and Yang" refers to their correspondence in vertical, horizontal, and diagonal movements. When the left hand moves with the flow, the right hand responds accordingly; conversely, when the right hand flows, the left hand compensates. This cyclical interaction reflects the wisdom of the I Ching, which states, "The Creative is easy to know, and the Receptive is simple to follow. What is easy to know is easy to understand, and what is simple to follow is straightforward." The concepts of "easy to know" and "simple to follow" rely on and coexist with each other, never departing.

The Treatise on Tai Chi states: "Adhering is walking, and walking is adhering. Yin does not separate from Yang, and Yang does not separate from Yin; the union of Yin and Yang is the essence of understanding power." This subtle relationship between Yin and Yang is the embodiment of the techniques in push hands, reflecting the ability to "overcome rigidity with softness" and "control movement with stillness."